Vail Jazz Festival announces summer lineup

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VAIL -The Vail Jazz Foundation announced the line-up of world class jazz performers for Thursday night Jazz at Vail Square concert series and the Labor Day Weekend Jazz Party, both part of the 19th annual Vail Jazz Festival. "Last year's line-up set the bar very high for Vail Jazz, but this summer's schedule surpasses anything we have done in our 19 year history," said Howard Stone, the chairman and artistic director of the Vail Jazz Foundation. "While Jazz is only a four letter word, it covers a lot of musical territory, including blues, Latin, swing, Brazilian, Gospel, straight ahead, bebop and beyond, and we will offer a wide variety of genres of jazz over a spectacular 12-week summer Jazz Festival,"Jazz at Vail SquareThe nine-show series of Jazz at Vail Square returns beginning July 4 and running through Aug. 29. The series opens on July 4th as Vail Jazz pays tribute to "The Red, White & The Blues" featuring a double billed line-up of Vail favorite Curtist Stigers and New York blues man SaRon Crenshaw. The series continues with Cuban sensation Wil Campa y su Gran Union, jazz guitar duo Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo, John Pizzarelli Quartet, Tommy Igoe Sextet, Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers and the Clayton Brothers Sextet and their students, the Vail Jazz All-Stars. Preferred seating will be available for $20 in advance; $25 day of show or for $99 for the nine-series Jazz Pass. "Preferred seating give guests the ability to get their choice of seats," said Executive Director Robin Litt. "These tickets and the Jazz Pass allow you to arrive at your leisure and know that you will have a premium spot to enjoy the performance." The remainder of the tent will remain free on a first-come, first-serve basis. Recommended donation of $5 is encouraged to support the 501(c)(3) Vail Jazz Foundation, which produces the Vail Jazz Festival and unique educational programming that are at the core of its mission.The Vail Jazz PartyLabor Day Weekend marks the 19th annual Vail Jazz Party, a unique party format designed so every musician is featured every day of the holiday weekend, in many cases in a jam session format. This year's event features a list of who's who in jazz today. Favorites from 2012, Cyrille Aime and Diego Figuerido, return after wowing Vail guests and residents in their debut appearance. Festival beloveds, the Clayton Brothers Sextet, will perform throughout the weekend, together and in multiple configurations, serving as anchor and a major force at the Vail Jazz Party. Drummer Jeff Hamilton will be joined by his trio mates Tamir Hendelman on piano and Christoph Luty on bass. The Vail Jazz Alumni Quartet, all past members of the Vail Jazz Workshop and current touring musicians, will be composed of Sullivan Fortner, piano, David Wong, bass, Jimmy Macbride, drums and Tia Fuller, saxophone. Solosist include familiar faces to the Vail Jazz Party, including Ernie Adams ,drums, Karen Hammack, piano, Byron Stripling, trumpet and vocals. Newcomers to Vail will be Bruce Forman, guitar, Ken Peplowski, tenor sax, and Akiko Tsuruga, Hammond B-3 organ.The Vail Jazz Party is known for its creative and entertaining educational programming through the presentation of muti-media presentations. Special shows in 2013 will include Shelly Berg's "Multi-Media History of Stride and Boogie Woogie Piano," Jeff Clayton's "Alto Show," Ken Peplowski and Diego Figueiredo's "Tribute to Charlie Byrd and the Bossa Nova Years," Niki Haris' "Gospel Prayer Meetin' with the Mile Hi Gospel Ensemble" and Byron Stripling's "Multi-Media Salute to Miles Davis.""Unfortunately, words cannot adequately describe the magic that takes place over the Labor Day Weekend," Stone said. "Suffice it to say that when you get 30 of the best jazz musician together with a crowd of passionate jazz fans in a beautiful place like Vail, great jazz happens."The line-up of artists for and information about Jazz at The Market and the Sunday night series, Jazz at Kelly Liken as well as Jazz After, orchestra jazz jams with Bravo! Vail, will be announced in early May. Also look for an announcement coming soon on Vail Jazz's newest educational program, Jammin' Jazz Kids, which will take place in conjunction with Jazz at The Market and offered free of charge to children ages 6 to 12.Patron passes on salePatron Passes for the Vail Jazz Party are now on sale at www.vailjazz.org and by calling 888-VAIL JAM or 970-479-6146. The $385 Patron Pass includes priority access to all eight performances, exclusive opening night party on Thursday and dinner with the artists on Saturday. Individual tickets to jazz performances will go on sale soon. More information on tickets, passes and the lineup is available at www.vailjazz.org.